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The Cost of Fires:

The Cost of Fires: . Implications for our Economy and Cal Fire Staffing Matt Rahn, Ph.D. San Diego State University. Scope of Project. Review of 2003 fire events in San Diego County Economic Assessment of Cost and Loss Estimate of Savings and Staffing Benefits

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The Cost of Fires:

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  1. The Cost of Fires: Implications for our Economy and Cal Fire Staffing Matt Rahn, Ph.D. San Diego State University

  2. Scope of Project • Review of 2003 fire events in San Diego County • Economic Assessment of Cost and Loss • Estimate of Savings and Staffing Benefits • Recommendations and Support for Cal Fire

  3. Cost of Fires In California From 1975-2002 CDF Statistics

  4. Review Process • Literature Review • Documents, reports, other studies • Estimates vs. Real Numbers • Conservative Approach

  5. 5 key areas:

  6. Impacts • 375,917 acres • The 2003 Cedar Fire burned 237,246 acres • largest fire in California's history • 3,241 homes lost • 16 lives lost • 6,635 peak crew

  7. $100 Million

  8. $147 Million

  9. Impact to Natural Areas

  10. Impact to Business

  11. Community Impact

  12. Theoretical Costs • Ecosystem Services • Storm Water Runoff Impact ($25 million) • Air Pollution Reductions By Vegetation ($1 million) • Habitat/Species (Unknown) • Water Quality (Unknown) • Air Pollution (Unknown)

  13. Recommendations Increases in Staffing Increases in Resources Potential legislative solutions Education and Outreach Economic Analysis Task Force

  14. Phase II: 2009-2011

  15. Initial Attack Effectiveness and Staffing Study • Staffing/Resources • Engine Staffing • Staff Variables • Environmental Conditions • Primary (Temperature, RH, Wind, Slope, Fuel Type) • Secondary (fire history, land management, habitat type) • Landscape Complexity • Configuration • Complexity • Continuity

  16. Project Goals • Increase understanding of how staffing impacts outcome • Support decision making, resource allocation, and staffing • Understand how staffing levels, resource availability, and environmental conditions influence the initial attack effectiveness and overall wildfire response and control.

  17. Methods • Controlled Experiments (Aug 2009-Apr 2010) • Training/Education (May-June 2010) • Real-World Fire Assessments (2010-2011) • 24-30 months • CDF Firefighters, CAL FIRE, SDSU Field Stations

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